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V25n3 September2003 Violunteer2003-3.qxd 8/19/2003 2:12 PM Page 1 ...and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth. TheThe VVolunteerolunteer ABRAHAM LINCOLN JOURNAL OF THE VETERANS OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE Vol. XXV, No. 3 September 2003 Veterans and friends with banners in Corbera. Photo courtesy of Bob Coale and Len Tsou. See “Return to the Ebro,” page 3. Chicago Vets, page 5 Prison Labor in Franco’s Spain, page 7 George Watt Awards, page 9 Book and Music Reviews, pages 16-20 Violunteer2003-3.qxd 8/19/2003 2:12 PM Page 2 Seeking World War II Letters To document the role of the veterans of the Lincoln Letters Brigade during World War II, ALBA is seeking privately Dear Friends: held correspondence written by vets in the military or The obituary of Bill Susman is a reminder of how from the home front. Such material will be indexed and neglect and procrastination negate the best of intentions. added to the ALBA archives at New York University’s I met Bill and was associated with him for a period Tamiment Library for the use of students and scholars. during the time when we both served on the board of the These letters may also be published in a forthcoming Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives. I remember getting volume. down beside his chair in a noisy, crowded conference room Such gifts to ALBA are tax deductible. If you have to talk, and his admonishing, “Please Rick, you don’t have such material, please contact Julia Newman, Executive to genuflect to me!” Bill was very friendly, outgoing, and Secretary, ALBA—Room 227, 799 Broadway, New York, accepting of my really non-qualifications to be on the NY 10003; 212-674-5398; [email protected]. ALBA board. Since it involved Spanish Civil War aviation, of course I talked to him about the incident of his being made a the memory of Norman as NORMAL Perlman, not NOR- courier in the purchase of a German airplane for use of the MAN PERLMAN. A small thing , maybe , but a correction Spanish loyalists. I think we decided that the airplane was in the next Volunteer will be much appreciated. probably a commercial version of the Messerschmidt 108, Thanks, but Bill could not recall the name of the German purveyor, Polly Perlman nor that of the Spanish agent who arranged the sale, proba- bly at Villacoublay. Letters Continued on page 21 This was certainly an unusual occurrence, entrusting such a transaction to a brash young American volunteer, just arrived in France. (But it seemed to me, 50 years later, from WWW.ALBA-VALB.ORG his confident, easy manner and continuing enthusiasm “for Make a donation on line. We now accept the cause,” that Bill was probably just the right ALBA volun- teer to choose to finagle the sale of the German airplane.) credit cards. Support ALBA's important Bill said he would write down everything he could work. Donations are tax deductible. recall about the incident and send it to me. I often thought to write and pester him about it but never did, and now it’s too late. Worse yet, I cannot find the notes I made (if any) concerning the incident, and it doesn’t seem to be men- The Volunteer tioned elsewhere. Journal of the So, if any of you diligent and discerning SCW aviation Veterans of the historical researchers have ANYTHING concerning Bill Susman’s sale of an ME 108 to the Spanish republicans Abraham Lincoln Brigade early in 1937, I’d appreciate it if you would clue me in. an ALBA publication It seems like a minor, but highly interesting, footnote to Spanish Civil War aviation history, and I regret to have 799 Broadway, Rm. 227 fumbled the ball. New York, NY 10003 Viva la brigada! (212) 674-5398 Richard (Rick) Sanders Allen 831A Stewart Avenue Editorial Board Lewiston, ID 83501 Peter Carroll • Leonard Levenson Gina Herrmann • Fraser Ottanelli Dear Volunteer, Abe Smorodin I'm writing to ask you to correct a misspelling in vol.xxv' #2,under contributions, you listed my donation to Design Production Richard Bermack Erratum Editorial Assistance Nancy Van Zwalenburg The photo of Abe Osheroff that appeared in the last issue of The Volunteer, page 4 credited to photographer Submission of Manuscripts Jose Moreno should have been credited to Jaffe. Please send manuscripts by E-mail or on disk. E-mail: [email protected] 2 THE VOLUNTEER September 2003 Violunteer2003-3.qxd 8/19/2003 2:12 PM Page 3 ReturReturnn ttoo thethe EEbrbroo By Bob Coale he International Brigades returned to the Ebro battlefields Tof 1938 to commemorate the 65th anniversary in a four-day reunion from July 3-6. The initiative was orga- nized by Terre de Germanor, an association of some 21 municipalities on both sides of the Pyrenees that are working to preserve the historic mem- ory of those who fought for freedom in the Spanish Civil War and World War II. The events attracted about 20 IB veterans, as well as 350 friends and family members, from 22 countries, from as close as France and as far as Estonia and Costa Rica. There were about 10 veterans from the 15th Brigade including, from the United States, Moe Fishman, Jack Shafran, Jack Shafran and Moe Fishman are about to cross the Ebro. and Clarence Kailin. The latter two carried with them not only memories, In Miravet veterans and friends re- gathering around the monument but also scars, from the Ebro Battle. crossed the river, throwing red erected by Italian veterans. This beau- The commemoration included the carnations into the water in homage to tiful memorial sits on an overhang customary speeches, dinners, Spanish fallen comrades. with a vista of the valley with the Ebro Republican songs, and flags. Farther upstream, in Flix, where running through it. Giovanni Pesce, Ceremonies were organized in towns many men of the 11th, 13th and 15th an Italian IBer, gave a rededication central to International Brigade history. Brigades crossed in 1938, there was a speech. Standing up front holding one end of the VALB banner, Moe Fishman witnessed a white-haired woman weeping all through the ceremony, Vet Pees Homage caressing the concrete base of the mon- ument. We learned later that her Jack Shafran had a personal anecdote to tell reporter Jerome husband died in this action in 1938. Socolovsky, who covered this summer’s memorial events for National One of the most memorable Public Radio. He explained that soldiers sometimes make promises that events took place in Marsa. This town haunt them for their entire lives. While facing bombardments on Hill 666, is unique in Spain; in a nearby field Jack swore that if he survived the war he’d return someday to piss on rests John Cookson, whose gravesite is Franco’s grave. At least that is what Jack remembers today. But, like many the only one to survive Francoist van- vets, Jack refused to return to Spain while Franco remained in power. dalism. In a moving talk in the local Not until 1986 did he have the opportunity to come clean with his con- auditorium, Clarence Kailin, whose science. With his son Seth, Jack visited the huge Franco tomb in the book on his friend and fellow Cathedral of the Valley of the Fallen. Before stepping inside, Jack told the Wisconsonite will be published short- reporter from NPR, he entered a pharmacy and purchased a glass vial, ly in Spain, thanked the townspeople which he took to his hotel room. He filled the vial with urine, returned to for preserving the site and spoke to the cathedral, and emptied it on Franco’s grave. The story was broadcast them about Cookson. Recently on July 6. Continued on page 4 Apparently Jack wasn’t the only person with such ideas. A recent visi- tor to the cathedral found that a guardrail has since been installed at the dictator’s last resting place. It is not so easy to pee homage these days, but Bob Coale is assistant professor of some, so we are told, still manage. Hispanic studies at the Universite Paris 8 - Saint Denis. THE VOLUNTEER September 2003 3 Violunteer2003-3.qxd 8/19/2003 2:12 PM Page 4 ReturReturnn ttoo EEbrbroo Continued from page 3 Veterans and friends in Corbera. Clarence has been in close contact international peace. with the town authorities to guarantee The main address the preservation of the site and to was given jointly by erect a monument. Later, with his son Ana Perez, President and daughter, Clarence visited his of the Asociación de friend’s grave for the first time. Amigos de las The next day, brigadistas and Brigadas friends converged on Corbera de Ebro Internacionales of for the official ceremony of remem- Spain, and her coun- brance. Several International terpart, Sr. Luis Brigaders fought for and passed Bielsa, President of through this small agricultural town the Amigos of on numerous occasions from April to Barcelona. A rousing September 1938. There, surrounded by message from Lise Vet Moe Fishman (r) talks with the mayor of Barcelona. the ruins of the old town—which London, herself an remain as a reminder of the horrors of IBer as well as spokesperson for the infamous Hill 666. With the backdrop war and a monument to peace—and French Resistance to fascism, closed the of Gandesa and Corbera across the under the hot summer sun, brigadis- ceremony. valley, Jack shared his memories of tas, former Spanish political prisoners, Following lunch, another U.S.
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